2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:38:23 PM Wikipedia source
The 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup will be the seventh edition of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup, the biennial international age-restricted football championship organised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for the men's under-23 national teams of Asia. The tournament will be held in Saudi Arabia between 7 and 25 January. Japan are the defending champions, having won the 2024 edition.
Infobox
Host country
Saudi Arabia
Dates
6–24 January
Teams
16 (from 1 confederation)
Venue
4 (in 2 host cities)
Tables
· Qualification › Qualified teams
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
Team
Saudi Arabia
Method ofqualification
Hosts
Date ofqualification
1 July 2023
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2022)
Jordan
Jordan
Team
Jordan
Method ofqualification
Group A winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Third place (2013)
Japan
Japan
Team
Japan
Method ofqualification
Group B winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2016, 2024)
Vietnam
Vietnam
Team
Vietnam
Method ofqualification
Group C winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Runners-up (2018)
Australia
Australia
Team
Australia
Method ofqualification
Group D winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Third place (2020)
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Team
Kyrgyzstan
Method ofqualification
Group E winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
1
Last timequalified
—
Previous bestperformance
—
Thailand
Thailand
Team
Thailand
Method ofqualification
Group F winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2020)
Iraq
Iraq
Team
Iraq
Method ofqualification
Group G winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2013)
Qatar
Qatar
Team
Qatar
Method ofqualification
Group H winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Third place (2018)
Iran
Iran
Team
Iran
Method ofqualification
Group I winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
5
Last timequalified
2022
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2016)
South Korea
South Korea
Team
South Korea
Method ofqualification
Group J winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2020)
Syria
Syria
Team
Syria
Method ofqualification
Group K winners
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
5
Last timequalified
2020
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2013, 2020)
China
China
Team
China
Method ofqualification
Best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Group stage (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024)
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Team
Uzbekistan
Method ofqualification
Second-best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
7
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Winners (2018)
Lebanon
Lebanon
Team
Lebanon
Method ofqualification
Third-best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
1
Last timequalified
—
Previous bestperformance
—
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Team
United Arab Emirates
Method ofqualification
Fourth-best runners-up
Date ofqualification
9 September 2025
Total timesqualified
6
Last timequalified
2024
Previous bestperformance
Quarter-finals (2013, 2016, 2020)
| Team | Method ofqualification | Date ofqualification | Total timesqualified | Last timequalified | Previous bestperformance |
| Saudi Arabia | Hosts | 1 July 2023 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2022) |
| Jordan | Group A winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Third place (2013) |
| Japan | Group B winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2016, 2024) |
| Vietnam | Group C winners | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Runners-up (2018) |
| Australia | Group D winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Third place (2020) |
| Kyrgyzstan | Group E winners | 9 September 2025 | 1 | — | — |
| Thailand | Group F winners | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Quarter-finals (2020) |
| Iraq | Group G winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2013) |
| Qatar | Group H winners | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Third place (2018) |
| Iran | Group I winners | 9 September 2025 | 5 | 2022 | Quarter-finals (2016) |
| South Korea | Group J winners | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2020) |
| Syria | Group K winners | 9 September 2025 | 5 | 2020 | Quarter-finals (2013, 2020) |
| China | Best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Group stage (2013, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2024) |
| Uzbekistan | Second-best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 7 | 2024 | Winners (2018) |
| Lebanon | Third-best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 1 | — | — |
| United Arab Emirates | Fourth-best runners-up | 9 September 2025 | 6 | 2024 | Quarter-finals (2013, 2016, 2020) |
· Venues
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City
Jeddah
Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City
Jeddah
King Abdullah Sports City Hall
Capacity: 27,000
Capacity: 27,000
Jeddah
Capacity: 27,000
Jeddah
Capacity: 1,000
Riyadh
Riyadh
Jeddah
Riyadh
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City
Jeddah
Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City
Jeddah
Al-Shabab Club Stadium
Capacity: 22,188
Capacity: 22,188
Jeddah
Capacity: 22,188
Jeddah
Capacity: 13,537
| Jeddah | html.skin-theme-clientpref-os od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os od > }JeddahRiyadhclass=notpageimage| Location of the host cities of the 2026 AFC U-23 Asian Cup. | |
| Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sports City | King Abdullah Sports City Hall | |
| Capacity: 27,000 | Capacity: 1,000 | |
| | ||
| Riyadh | ||
| Prince Faisal bin Fahd Sports City | Al-Shabab Club Stadium | |
| Capacity: 22,188 | Capacity: 13,537 | |
· Draw
Saudi Arabia (hosts) Uzbekistan Japan Iraq
Saudi Arabia (hosts) Uzbekistan Japan Iraq
Pot 1
Saudi Arabia (hosts) Uzbekistan Japan Iraq
Pot 2
South Korea Vietnam Australia Qatar
Pot 3
Thailand Jordan United Arab Emirates Iran
Pot 4
China Syria Kyrgyzstan Lebanon
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
| Saudi Arabia (hosts) Uzbekistan Japan Iraq | South Korea Vietnam Australia Qatar | Thailand Jordan United Arab Emirates Iran | China Syria Kyrgyzstan Lebanon |
· Group stage › Group A
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Saudi Arabia (H)
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
Qualification
Advance to knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Vietnam
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Jordan
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Kyrgyzstan
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Saudi Arabia (H) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Vietnam | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Jordan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Kyrgyzstan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
· Group stage › Group B
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Japan
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
Qualification
Advance to knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Qatar
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
3
3
Pos
3
Team
United Arab Emirates
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Syria
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Japan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Qatar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | United Arab Emirates | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Syria | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
· Group stage › Group C
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Uzbekistan
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
Qualification
Advance to knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
South Korea
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Iran
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
4
4
Pos
4
Team
Lebanon
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Uzbekistan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | South Korea | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Iran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | Lebanon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
· Group stage › Group D
1
1
Pos
1
Team
Iraq
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
Qualification
Advance to knockout stage
2
2
Pos
2
Team
Australia
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
3
3
Pos
3
Team
Thailand
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
4
4
Pos
4
Team
China
Pld
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
GF
0
GA
0
GD
0
Pts
0
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Iraq | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to knockout stage |
| 2 | Australia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Thailand | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 4 | China | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
References
- "AFC Competitions Calendar (Jul 2025 - Jun 2026)"https://assets.the-afc.com/downloads/calendars/AFC-Competitions-Calendar-(Jul-2025-Jun-2026)-upd-10-Jun-2025.pdf
- "AFC Competitions Committee approves key decisions on reformatted competitions"https://www.the-afc.com/en/more/afc_competitions/news/afc_competitions_committee_approves_key_decisions_on_reformatted_competitions_1.html
- Asian Football Confederationhttps://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup.html/news/saudi-arabia-2026-qualifiers-groups-finalised
- the-afc.comhttps://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u23_asian_cup.html/news/road-to-saudi-arabia-2026-glory-paved
- الاتحاد الآسيوي يحدد موعد قرعة كأس آسيا دون 23 عاماً في السعوديةhttps://the-lfa.com.lb/news/AFCU23_drawD.php